Washington DC, Artificial city, Capital

When we see D.C. from top of the Washington Monument, 169 m high, white buildings such as White House and the Capitol are in the direction of cross way. And seeing the Capitol, Smithsonian and National Museum and so on are from side to side of green belt. Outside those buildings, there are government office buildings such as Department of Commerce and Justice Department. It is interesting structure. It is artificial town and government city but passing of time adds artificial dull city to historic atmosphere. It is time magic.

We can go inside the White House, when we get a free entrance ticket. But it is not easy to get the ticket. On summer holiday season, waiting queue already starts on 6:00 in the morning. I went to see inside in 1993. I remembered that I could see the Oval Room too. That reminds me the openness. It is written on signboard as "White House is the oldest public building and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is the most famous address in the U.S." This is Map and signboard of White House and around.

Subway is convenient. One time ticket is one dollar and 10 cents and prepaid card system. Amount of the card can be added after usage. Train lines are classified by colors such as yellow or blue. Be careful, different line train comes on same platform. Lights of subway station are a little dark than Japanese subway station, but we feel the security because many children and business people are using it. We took it around 23:00 and there were many passengers in it.


Smithsonian Information Center	Sculpture in the garden	Good looking building	Backside looks like school


Church like frontal face	Mr.Smithsonian ?	National Gallery of Art	Many Greek style buildings


Outdoor sculpture park	Buddha-looking arts	National Museum of	Natural History


Justice Department	Art on Natural History	Int. Rev. Bureau	Greek temple looking is


Labor Department.	Washington Monument	In Pershing Park	See Lincoln Memorial


Rosslyn District	Statue on Lincoln Bridge	One on the other side	On Roosevelt bridge


Arlington Memorial Bri.	Lincoln Memorial Poles	16th President Lincoln	Right wall speech is


inaugural address	when re-elected	Famous Gettisburg Speech	5.8m high


On 5$, Lincoln & Memorial	Marble Statue	Building is big	From Memorial to Monument


Like a Greek temple	36 columns for 36 states	Right side Reflecting Pool	See many jogger around


Squirrel are everywhere	Do not go away	John Paul Jones, who?	Square around the Monument


169m high Monument	World highest stone tower	Style is like monoliths	Soldier monoliths


Playing soccer in square	Dept of Commerce big flag	1st Secretary of Treasury	Tourist mecca White House


Also fountain inside	Tourists take photos	Typical White House	Squirrel in White House


This Pennsylvania street,	1600 is White House	On New York Avenue	Big Dept. of Commerce

I tried to go up to the top of the Washington Monument and waited in line for an hour. It was expected one more hour to go in the elevator then I gave up this time. Photos below shows scenery from the top of the Monument in 1993. Views from 169m high could see the bird's eye view of the artificial town.
In 1993, I could go into the White House, then I attached the photo below. And also a view from Lincoln to the Monument could be seen which shows a scene of reflecting pool's surface became mirror.

2003/04/01